Clothes-pounder.



PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

R. S. SHELDON.

CLOTHES POUNDER.

nrmouron rum) APR. 16, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

ATTORNEY? UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFIC CLOTH ES-POUNDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,7 56, dated December 20, 1904. Application filed April 16, 1904.- Serial No. 203,464.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Rosoon S. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Allis, county of Milwaukee, and State of VVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Founders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes-washers; and it pertains to that class by which the clothes are washed in an ordinary washtub or other similar receptacle by an upward-and-downward movement of the washing instrument upon them.

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a top view thereof. Fig. 2 is a bottom view, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A represents the operatinghead of the washer, by which pressure is applied to the clothes when washing them. The head A comprises a concavo-convex shell which is secured to an operating-handle with its concave face downward. The head A is preferably formed of sheet metal, subdivided into a plurality of tight compartments C by the radial partitions D. The lower edges of the partitions D are preferably provided with strengthening-rods E, which extend transversely at right angles to each other across the center of the head and are affixed at their respective ends to the vertical walls of the head, while the lower edges of the several partitions are bent over and secured around said rods.

F is a cylindrical tube which forms a socket for the reception of the handle B, which is secured therein by a fastening-pin G or in any convenient manner, while the downward pressure upon the handle B is resisted by contact with the intersecting rods D at the center of the head, the inner portion of said cylindrical tube F being supported and reinforced by the converging ends of said partitions, which are secured thereto.

The several compartments C of the head are provided with check-valves, which valves respectively comprise a block H, elastic air from beneath the head as the same is pressed upon the clothes.

I am aware of the fact that metallic clothespounders of similar external construction but of smaller area have previously been used for pounding clothes. 1t is a well-known fact, however, that when forcing a pounder of the ordinary construction upon the clothes which are submerged in water the air which is trapped beneath the lower edge of the pounder serves as a cushion to the pounder and pre- Vents the same from being used with that effect that it would otherwise be were the stroke of the pounder not thus resisted by the air beneath it. To overcome this objection, I have provided the several compartments of my washer with the apertures L, through which the air is free to escape with each downward stroke of the washer, while the several apertures are closed with the upward, movement of the washer by the several valves located above them. Thus it will be obvious that with the downward stroke of the washer the entire weight of the blow is brought to bear upon the clothes, while with the upward movement of the same the valve is closed and a partial vacuum is formed beneath the washer, which causes the water to rush in through the clothes from the exterior, whereby a circulation of water is produced through the clothes, which has the effect to remove the dirt therefrom.

WVhile with the ordinary pounders referred to the clothes are washed by a succession of downward strokes, by my washer the clothes are washed by applying a tilting or vibratory movement to the upper end of the handle of the washer backwardly and forwardly in a horizontal direction, whereby the exertion of lifting the instrument direct, as heretofore, is avoided. Another important object is attained by subdividing the head A into a plurality of compartments C by the partitions D. By thus subdividing the head when the handle is rocked in one direction a downward pressure is applied to the clothes from one side of the head, while a partial vacuum is formed in the compartments upon the opposite side of the head, whereby an induced current of water is drawn through the clothes beneath the compartments which are being raised, when by the reverse rocking movement of the handle the action of the washer upon the clothes beneath the respective sides of the head is reversed. Thus the water is alternately forced from and drawn through the clothes in opposite directions by the rocking movement of the washer until the clothes are cleansed.

It will of course be understood that the effectiveness of the washer will be increased by increasing the area of the contact-bearing surface of the head, the same being preferably made much larger than that of the ordinary pounders, which are operated by applying a succession of downward strokes upon the clothes. While with the ordinary pounder the work is performed by repeatedly lifting the entire pounder from the clothes vertically, by my construction and method of washing the exertion required to operate the same is very much reduced, as the handle through which the power is applied serves as a lever by which a tilting movement is applied to the head in raising the edges thereof from the clothes, while the greater part of the weight of the washer is at all times supported by the clothes and the necessity of lifting the same is thereby avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A clothes-pounder of the described class comprising a convavo-convex shell subdivided into a plurality of compartments by a plurality of radial partitions, each compartment being provided with a plurality of apertures; a valve located above and adapted to close the apertures of the several compartments; means for holding said valves in place above said apertures in combination with a vertical tube centrally located in said shell at the converging ends of said radial partitions, said tube being adapted to serve the twofold purpose of supporting the converging ends of said partitions and as a ferrule for the operating-handle, while the converging ends of said partitions cooperate with said shell to hold said central tube in place.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROSGO'E s. SHELDON.

Witnesses J AS. B. ERWIN, N. Z. TAUGHER. 

